Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2020, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 783-798.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(20)63536-7

• Special Column on Electrocatalysis • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Supported dual-atom catalysts: Preparation, characterization, and potential applications

Jing Zhanga,b, Qiu-an Huanga, Juan Wangb, Jing Wanga, Jiujun Zhanga, Yufeng Zhaoa,c   

  1. a Institute for Sustainable Energy/College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China;
    b Shanxi Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, School of Mechanical & Electrical engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 710055 Xi'an, Shaanxi, China;
    c Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China
  • Received:2019-10-12 Revised:2019-11-23 Online:2020-05-18 Published:2019-12-31
  • Contact: 10.1016/S1872-2067(20)63536-7
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Sciecne Foundation of China (51774251), the Hebei Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (B2017203313), Hundreds of Innovative Talents in Hebei Province (SLRC2017057), the opening project of the state key laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources (SKL-ACPS-C-11), and the Talent Engineering Training Funds of Hebei Province (A201802001).

Abstract: Developing sustainable and clean electrochemical energy conversion technologies is a crucial step in addressing the challenges of energy shortage and environmental pollution. Exploring and developing new electrocatalysts with excellent performance and low cost will facilitate the commercial use of these energy conversion technologies. Recently, dual-atom catalysts (DACs) have attracted considerable research interest since they exhibit higher metal atom loading and more flexible active sites compared to single-atom catalysts (SACs). In this paper, the latest preparation methods and characterization techniques of DACs are systematically reviewed. The advantages of homonuclear and heteronuclear DACs and the catalytic mechanism and identification technologies between the two DACs are highlighted. The current applications of DACs in the field of electrocatalysis are summarized. The development opportunities and challenges of DACs in the future are prospected. The ultimate goal is to provide new ideas for the preparation of new catalysts with excellent properties by customizing diatomic catalysts for electrochemical applications.

Key words: Dual-atoms catalyst, Homonuclear, Heteronuclear, Electrocatalyst, Energy conversion and storage device